Reel for flexible plastic pipe



Sept. 11, 1962 U. M. SHELLITO REEL FOR FLEXIBLE PLASTIC PIPE Filed July 14, 1960 /a /7 I f INVENTOR.

UISOV! M. 511 elljio Arrglglmc Patented Sept. 11, 1962 3,053,471 REEL FOR FLEXIBLE PLASTIC PIPE Urson M. Shellito, P.0. Box 66, Harmonsburg, Pa. Filed July 14, 1960, Ser. No. 42,813 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-36) This invention relates to a reel and more particularly to a reel and reel supporting structure for receiving flexible plastic pipe from a well.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a portable reel and supporting structure for receiving and coiling .a plastic pipe.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a reel and supporting structure that is structurally strong, light in weight, and capable of being handled and manipulated manually.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a reel and supporting structure therefor that may be positioned above a water well casing and used to pull the plastic pipe therefrom and coil the same simultaneously.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a reel and supporting structure which may be used for positioning plastic pipe in a water well.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that in recent years water wells for domestic use in the suburbs have become increasingly numerous and simultaneously flexible plastic pipe particularly of the double tube type as used with jet pumps has become available and has proven satisfactory in use. It has heretofore been the practice to install such flexible plastic pipe of the double tube type in water wells by manually removing it from shipping reels and feeding it into the water well casing after having attached the jet pump apparatus thereto. From time to time it is necessary to remove the jet pump apparatus from the well for servicing and repair and it has heretofore been a diflicult task to remove the relatively stilt though flexible plastic pipe from a water well and coil it so that it could be subsequently replaced in the well.

The present invention relates to a reel and a supporting stand therefor, which is particularly adapted for receiving and coiling plastic pipe and for use in positioning such flexible plastic pipe in a well or removing it therefrom.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FlGURE l is a perspective view of the reel for flexible plastic pipe.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

By referring to the drawings and FIGURE 1 in particular it will be seen that the reel for flexible plastic pipe particularly of the double tube type has been illustrated in use in receiving a length of such flexible plastic pipe from a Well. The well casing is indicated by the numeral 11 the double tube type flexible plastic pipe by the numeral 11 and it will be observed that the reel comprises a plurality of horizontally spaced radially extending pairs of arms 12, 12 secured at their innermost ends to hubs 13, 13 and at locations inwardly from their outermost ends by cross pieces 14, 14. A pair of annular members 15, 15 are positioned one on either side of the plurality of radially extending arms 12, 12 and secured thereto so as to locate the same adjacent the ends of the cross pieces 14, 14- heretofore referred to. The outermost ends 12A, 12A of the arms 12, 12 extend beyond the annular members 15, 15 and form circumferentially spaced radially extending guides for the flexible plastic pipe 11 coiled on the reel and engaging the cross pieces 14, 14 and positioned between the guides 12A, 12A.

The diameter of the annular members 15 is approxi mately four feet and the reel thus formed is capable of receiving and coiling the double tube type of flexible plastic pipe generally used in jet pump water wells.

The reel for flexible plastic pipe is supported in rotatable position by a supporting structure which includes a pair of spaced elongated base members 16, 16 on which a pair of vertically standing spaced angular frame members 17 and 18 are positioned with their lower ends secured as by welding to the base members 16 and their upper ends attached to spaced journals 19 and 20 through which an axle shaft 21 is positioned horizontally. The axle shaft 21 is secured to the hubs 13, 13 of the reel and the reel is revolvably mounted on the supporting structure thereby.

Transversely positioned bracing plates 22, 22 are positioned between the lowermost portions of the angular frame members 17 and 18 and secured thereto by welding to impart rigidity to the structure. A pair of brace rods 23, 23 are positioned in crossed relation between the spaced base members 16, 16 adjacent one of the plates 22 and it will thus be seen that a substantial area between the base members 16, the brace rods 23, and the other one of the plates 22 is open and through which area the flexible plastic pipe 11 extends.

In order that the reel for flexible plastic pipe may be rotated as necessary in feeding the flexible plastic pipe into the well casing 10 or removing it therefrom, a knurled surface 24 is formed on an annular metal band 25 which is secured to one of the annular members 15 of the reel as may be best seen by referring to FIGURE 2 of the drawings. A driving friction wheel 26 having an axle 27 carrying a crank 28 is journalled in a slotted horizontal frame member 29 one end of which is attached to the journal 19 heretofore referred to and the other end secured to a vertically positioned support member 30. The horizontal member 29 and the vertical support member 30 are secured to a secondary cross piece 31. A secondary horizontal member 29A and secondary vertical support member 30A .are positioned between the journal 20 and the brace member 16 in horizontally spaced relation to the horizontal member 29 and vertical support member 30 on which the friction wheel 26 is rotatably mounted and they are .also secured to the secondary cross piece 21. A pair of secondary brace rods 32 are positioned in crossed relation between the vertical support member 30 and the secondary vertical supporting member 30A and the vertical support member 30 and the secondary vertical support member 30A are secured to the angular frame members 17 and 18 to join the same to the reel supporting structure and form a rigid support for the friction wheel 26.

The friction wheel 26 is provided with an annular rubber rim 33 the outer surface of which is roughened as at 34 and adapted to be positioned in registry with the knurled surface 24 of the metal bar 25 under tension by means of a coil spring 35 positioned in the horizontal member 29 between a pair of movable members 36 and 37 one of which, the member 36, forms a journal for the axle 27 and the other, the member 37, forms a part of an adjustable clamp 38 including a clamp portion 39, and a threaded shaft 40 having a butterfly nut 41 threadably engaged thereon. The adjustable clamp 38 there fore determines the length of the coil spring 35 and hence the tension exerted thereby through the member 36 on the axle 27 of the friction wheel 26.

It will thus be seen that the reel for flexible plastic pipe and supporting structure therefor as disclosed herein meets the several objects of the invention, and having thus described my invention What I claim is:

1. A reel for flexible plastic pipe and a supporting structure therefor, said reel comprising a plurality of spaced radially extending arms having hubs formed on their innermost ends, annular members secured thereto outwardly therefrom and cross pieces extending between said arms adjacent said annular members, said supporting structure comprising a pair of horizontally spaced angular frame members having journals on their upper ends, an axle shaft positioned horizontally through said hubs and rotatably positioned in said journals, .a pair of base frame members, said angular frame members mounted on said base frame members, a secondary frame structure secured to said spaced angular members and extending along one side thereof, a friction Wheel and crank rotatably mounted on said secondary structure, said friction wheel engaged on one of said annular members for rotating said reel.

2. The reel for flexible plastic pipe and the supporting structure therefor as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said friction Wheel and crank are adjustably mounted on said secondary structure.

3. The reel for flexible plastic pipe and supporting structure therefor set forth in claim 1 and wherein an annular metal band is aflixed to one of said annular members, the exterior surface of said band being knurled and wherein said friction Wheel and crank are spring urged toward said band.

4. A reel for flexible plastic pipe and a supporting structure therefor, said reel comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending arms arranged in two groups spaced horizontally, cross pieces joining said arms, annular rims on said arms, hubs formed at the inner ends of each of said groups of arms, an axle positioned through said hubs, said supporting structure comprising a pair of spaced base frame members, a pair of angularly disposed frame members positioned one on each of said base frame members, journals formed on the upper ends of said angularly disposed frame members, said axle positioned through said journals to support said reel thereon, a secondary support structure comprising a pair of horizontal members and a pair of vertical members joined to one another, and a secondary cross piece joining said horizontal and vertical members, a block movably mounted on one of said horizontal members, a friction wheel and axle journaled in said block and a spring normally urging said block toward said reel, said friction Wheel being in rim to rim engagement with one of said annular rims on said reel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 486,538 Phleegar Nov. 22, 1892 1,297,380 Marriott Mar. 18, 1919 2,039,250 Junge Apr. 28, 1936 2,577,859 Schirmer Dec. 11, 1951 

